Research Group

Dr. Noushin Rajabalinia PDF (April 2023 - Current)

Copolymerization Chain Growth Kinetics of Sparingly Soluble Monomers in Aqueous Solution

Noushin Rajabalinia was born and grew up in Urmia, the capital of the west Azerbaijan province of Iran. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Tehran and Master of Science degree from Sahand University of Technology in Chemical Engineering. She joined POLYMAT in Spain as a PhD student to work in RECOBA, a large European project coordinated by BASF involving six companies and four universities with the aim of improving the performance of batch processes across different industrial sectors. Within this framework, her PhD research was to develop fundamental understanding on the evolution of particle morphology during emulsion polymerization to help overcome the associated challenges in on-line morphological control. The skills gained in the batch and semi-batch synthesis of latexes, polymer and process characterization, and the mathematical modeling of waterborne dispersions led to several high-impact publications, three as first author.

Noushin joined the Maric group at McGill University as a postdoctoral fellow in April 2021 where she was involved in three NSERC industrial projects: an NSERC Engage with GA International (Laval, QC) that resulted in a technical report describing failure analysis of commercial polymeric coating materials under harsh environments; an NSERC CRD with Safran (Kirkland QC) to complete the design of a water-based resin; and an NSERC CRD with ADFAST Corp. (St. Laurent, QC) for the development of water-dispersable bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethanes that was published in Reaction and Functional Polymers. Since April 2023, she has been working as a PDF in the Hutchinson group in collaborative research on the polymerization kinetics of sparingly soluble monomers in water with BASF.

Opeyemi Ajogbeje PhD (2020 - current)

Radical Polymerization Kinetics of Amino-functional Monomers

I attended University of Waterloo, where I obtained a BASc in Chemical Engineering in 2017. I earned an Energy and Environmental Systems and Processes Specialization as well as a Management Sciences Option. During the co-operative education program, I gained relevant work experience at Apotex Inc., Toronto Hydro, Regional Municipality of York and other reputable organizations. I worked as an undergraduate research assistant and investigated the colloidal stability of ethyl cellulose nanoparticles for Pickering emulsion formulation in the course of study at University of Waterloo.

On completion of the undergraduate degree, I worked briefly at the Sitel Group before proceeding to University of Toronto, where I graduated with a MASc in Chemical Engineering in 2020. As a graduate research assistant, I collaborated with an industrial partner (Syncrude Canada Limited), where I conducted research in the fields of colloids (microemulsions), interfacial phenomena and porous media to model a packed bed process equipment. A coalescer design methodology was successfully developed at the end of the program.

I am presently at Queen’s University pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering.  The combination of polymer science and reaction engineering principles lead to commercial-scale synthesis of polymers. Specifically, I study the free-radical polymerization of amino-functional monomers for coating and biomedical applications. The research explores dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) monomer for the development of novel polymers.

Conference Presentations

14th International Workshop on Polymer Reaction Engineering (Potsdam, Germany, Sep 2023)
39th Canadian High Polymer Forum (Gananoque ON, Aug 2022)
World Polymer Congress MACRO 2022 (Winnipeg MB, Jul 2022)

Papers

Ajogbeje, O. J., I. Lacík, R. A. Hutchinson, “The Influence of Monomer Ionization and Hydrolysis on the Radical Polymerization Kinetics of 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate in Aqueous Solution”, Polym. Chem. 14, 2624-2639, 2023 [More Information]

O. J. Ajogbeje, A. Stammitti-Scarpone, S. Cao, T. Akanni, S. Ng, E. J. Acosta, "Separation of Emulsions with Fibrous Filter-Coalescers", Langmuir 37, 7630-7642, 2021 [more information].

Elizabeth Bygott PhD (2020 - current, promoted from MASc program in 2021)

Synthesis and Utilization of Acrylic Macromonomers

Graduating from Queen’s University with a BASc in Chemical Engineering in the spring of 2020, Elizabeth plans to continue to build off of her undergrade thesis work exploring the use of poly(isobornyl acrylate) and various acrylate copolymers for use in the coatings and adhesives industry. Due to a keen interest in the field of polymer reaction engineering and having already worked under the supervision of Dr. Robin Hutchinson and Dr. Nina Heidarzadeh, Elizabeth found this lab to be the perfect fit for her.

Elizabeth is investigating the high-temperature semi-batch radical polymerization of poly(isobornyl acrylate) and blocky acrylate copolymers for use of the acrylic macromonomers in the automotive coatings industry. Size exclusion chromatography, light-scattering, gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry will be used to investigate the properties of the polymeric materials.

Conference Presentations

Polymer Reaction Engineering XI (Scottsdale AZ, USA, December 2022)
39th Canadian High Polymer Forum (Gananoque ON, August 2022)
Clarkson Materials Chemistry Symposium (Potsdam NY, USA, October 2022)
World Polymer Congress MACRO 2022 (Winnipeg MB, July 2022)
71st Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual, October 2021)
70th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual, October 2020)

Papers

Bygott, E. G., R. A. Hutchinson, "The Use of High-Temperature Semi-Batch Radical Polymerization to Synthesize Acrylate Based Macromonomers and Structured Copolymers", Macromol. Chem. Phys. 225, 202300321, 2024 [More information]

Nasresfahani, A., N. Heidarzadeh, E. G. Bygott, R. A. Hutchinson, "Stochastic Modeling of Poly(acrylate) Distributions Obtained by Radical Polymerization under High‐Temperature Semi‐Batch Starved‐Feed Conditions: Investigation of Model Predictions versus Experimental Data", Macromol. Theory Simul. 30, 2000093, 2021 [More Information]. Invited contribution

Heidarzadeh, N., E. G. Bygott, R. A. Hutchinson, "Exploiting Addition–Fragmentation Reactions to Produce Low Dispersity Poly(isobornyl acrylate) and Blocky Copolymers by Semibatch Radical Polymerization", Macromol. Rapid Commun. 41, 2000288, 2020 [More information]

Fatemeh Salarhosseini PhD (Jan 2022 - Current)

The Influence of Solvent on Radical Propagation Kinetics

Completing her undergraduate studies in Pure Chemistry in the spring of 2016 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, ranked as the 3rd best university in Iran, Fatemeh demonstrated her academic prowess by participating in the Iranian National Chemistry Olympiad, achieving the notable rank of 16th in the 2016 competition. She then earned her Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Polymer Chemistry in the winter of 2019. During her MASc studies, she underwent training in the Conservation and Management of Laboratory and obtained certification in Health, Safety, and Environment workshops. Her research focused on preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity of chitosan-based composites containing bentonite and zeolite supported silver(Ι) oxide against Streptococcus iniae bacteria for aquaculture applications, under supervision of Dr. Navid Ramezanian (graduated from Bielefeld University of Germany). To further her expertise in microbiological testing and techniques, she completed a one-month internship in the Food Quality and Safety Research Department at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. This period allowed her to master essential research techniques, including synthesis composites and microbial tests such as disc diffusion test and microdilution techniques.

Her outstanding academic achievements and her profound interest in polymer reactions and synthesis, coupled with and her collaboration with Dr. Gholamhossein Zohouri (graduated from University of Manchester and prominent expert in the synthesis and characterization of polymers), provided Fatemeh with an opportunity to join the Hutchinson lab, aligning perfectly with her research aspirations and capabilities. There she is investigating radical homopolymerization of methacrylates to obtain a better understanding of the systematic changes in radical propagation kinetics with monomer structure. She is also studying the effects of water and ethanol/water solvent mixtures on the homo- and co- polymerization kinetics of hydrophobic monomers (e.g., butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate) with carboxylic-acid monomers (e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid). She uses both Pulsed laser polymerization coupled with Size exclusion chromatography (with light-scattering detection), and in-situ NMR techniques in her studies.

Sara Mohebbi PhD (Sept 2023 - Current)

Copolymerization of Biorenewable Itaconate Monomers

Sara received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Department of Polymer Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran, Iran). For her bachelor’s project, she studied the relationship between the microstructure of polymer nanocomposites and their rheological, mechanical, and electrical properties. Following graduation in 2018, she embarked on a collaborative project, gaining hands-on experience in in-situ polymerization of polyurethane with Halloysite nanotubes, and investigating the microstructure-property relationships within the resulting nanocomposite. For her master's degree, Sara designed an engineered biopolymer for biomedical applications through physical and chemical surface modification of polydimethylsiloxane. After graduating in 2022, she served as a research assistant at the Pasteur Institute of Iran, honing her skills in project management and various characterization techniques.

Sara’s experiences coupled with a keen interest in polymer reaction engineering, led to her decision to pursue further studies in this area. Thus, she joined the Hutchinson group in September 2023 for her PhD. Her research focuses on the copolymerization of bio-renewable monomers based on itaconic acid with acrylic monomers. This project aims to synthesize sustainable polymer materials suitable for coating industries, offering both industrial benefits and significant environmental advantages.

Mahsa Esmaeilzadeh MASc (Jan 2022 - Current)

Modeling and Parameter Estimation of High Temperature Solution Radical Copolymerization

Beginning her academic journey with an unexpected participation in the Iranian National Chemistry Olympiad, Mahsa 's fascination with chemistry was ignited early on. Her prowess in mathematics and physics during her high school years naturally steered her towards a career in chemical engineering. Pursuing both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Tehran—recognized as Iran's premier institution based on global rankings—Mahsa distinguished herself by ranking among the top 10% of students in her graduating classes.

Her three-month internship in the Biotechnology Laboratory within the Chemical Engineering Department at Tehran University was a pivotal experience, guiding her to undertake her bachelor project under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Zeinab Salehi. The project focused on the experimental and computational optimization of operating conditions for enhancing the activity of Lipase, an enzyme extracted from Rhizopus Oryzae, a type of fungi. Continuing her exploration into the field of polymer science and catalysis, Mahsa's master's research, co-supervised by Dr. Samahe Sadjadi (Associate Professor at Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute) and Dr. Salehi, revolved around the synthesis of an innovative hydrogenation catalyst. This catalyst, derived from bio-based materials such as chitosan modified by cyclodextrin, was designed to improve the hydrogenation reactions of nitroarenes in aqueous media under mild conditions.

Further expanding her expertise, Mahsa is pursuing a second Master's in Polymer Reaction Engineering under the guidance of Robin Hutchinson. Her project entails the modeling and optimization of radical homopolymerization and co(ter)polymerization of butyl acrylate systems for automotive applications. The focus is on enhancing the terminal double bond content through parameter estimation techniques in Predici software. She is now dedicated to adjusting kinetic parameters in the model to develop a novel approach for another bio-based acrylate system, isobornyl acrylate.

Melissa Bonillã MASc (Sept 2022 - Current)

Development of an Efficient Cu-Mediated Process for Acrylic Block Copolymers

Hey everyone! I'm a grad student (MASc) from Costa Rica, passionate about dancing, meeting new people, traveling, and, of course, polymers! My fascination with polymers started back in my undergrad days in Chemical Engineering at Universidad de Costa Rica. After graduation, I dived into the industrial world, working as an engineer at companies like Grupo Sur and Smith & Nephew, and also getting involved in research at places like The National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models (LanammeUCR). Everywhere I went, it seemed like I was surrounded by polymers, showcasing their incredible versatility.

That's why I took the opportunity to join the Hutchinson group to continue exploring this fascinating field. Under Robin’s guidance, I've grown both as an engineer and a scientist. My main interest lies in polymer science and its practical applications in industry, which is evident in my current project, "Sustainable and Scalable Routes to Block Copolymers via Cu-mediated Reversible-Deactivation Radical Solution Polymerization." My time in the group has been incredibly rewarding, despite the challenges. If you ever want to know more about my experience at Queen’s University, feel free to reach out!

Dr. Mingmin Zhang PDF (2019-2021), PhD (2015 - 2018)
Currently researcher at Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Shaoxing, China

PhD Project: Design and Synthesis of Acrylic Dispersants for Nonaqueous Dispersions

After earning a B. Eng degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhejiang University, China (2000-2004), I worked as a process engineer, technical sales representative, and business and technical manager in the emulsion polymerization and polymer latex formulation application industry (adhesive, paints and coating) in Shanghai, China for about 9 years both in multinational and in local Chinese companies. After completing my MBA degree from the University of Hong Kong (IMBA, part-time, Distinction, 2011-2013), I joined in Robin's research group for a cutting-edge research opportunity in the polymer reaction engineering and polymer synthesis areas.

My MSc research project developed a new process to synthesize hydrogel through lower copper-mediated ATRP technique in aqueous medium for coating and biomaterial industries, and my PhD research involved the use of ATRP and Co-mediated polymerization to synthesize poly(BMA) macromonomers with low dispersity for application as a dispersant in nonaqueous dispersions.

Working in an international research team with bright minds helps keep me excited and progressing. My long-term target is to get tenure in a recognized university or to establish a company with international competitiveness in chemical industry.

Dr. Amin Nasresfahani – PDF (2020 - 2021), PhD (2017 – 2020)
Currently Senior Scientist with Axalta Coating Solutions (Philadelphia PA)

Accelerated Monte-Carlo Techniques for Modeling of Polymer Architecture and Semi-batch Process Optimization

Amin Nasresfahani was born on November 1992 and grew up in a vibrant city called Esfahan in the heart of Iran. He obtained his B.Sc. Eng. in Polymer Engineering in July 2015 from one of Iran’s most prestigious universities, Amirkabir University, located in Tehran, the capital of Iran. His BSc project developed a model to quantify the effects of the reversible coordinative transfer reaction  in the chain shuttling copolymerization of ethylene and 1-octene, and led to his first publication.

Immediately after graduation, he came to Canada to gain an in-depth knowledge of polymer chemistry at Brock University, obtaining his MSc degree in the Chemistry Department. His MSc thesis established a novel method to equip polysiloxane linear chains with self-healing capacity, pushing forward knowledge initially reported a decade ago to extend the lifetime of the polymeric material. Synthesizing small molecules, developing purification methods, functionalizing polysiloxanes & silicon-containing compounds, and using various NMR techniques (¹H,¹³C,²⁹Si) in solution & solid state are among the  practical skills he acquired. The work was awarded the 2018 Distinguished Graduate Student MSc Award in Chemistry from Brock University.

Upon completion of his MSc in organic chemistry in 2017, he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University under the supervision of Prof. Robin Hutchinson. His PhD focused on the improvement of semi-batch starved-feed radical copolymerization processes through development and application of a comprehensive stochastic kinetic Monte Carlo model to represent the complex reaction system. Since polymers are often functionalized for end-use applications, knowledge of the average composition and molecular weights of the product is often not sufficient, as the distribution of the reactive moieties among the chains affects performance. Minimizing the fraction of functional monomer used in the production of low molecular-weight resins for solvent-borne coatings was tackled via accelerated stochastic modeling approaches, with the model used to develop nonlinear dosing strategies to improve product uniformity while significantly reducing semi-batch feeding time, as verified by lab trials. The model is currently being applied to model acrylate-rich copolymers under conditions that maximize the production of chains with terminal-double bond functionality.

Papers

Nasresfahani, A., N. Heidarzadeh, E. G. Bygott, R. A. Hutchinson, "Stochastic Modeling of Poly(acrylate) Distributions Obtained by Radical Polymerization under High‐Temperature Semi‐Batch Starved‐Feed Conditions: Investigation of Model Predictions versus Experimental Data", Macromol. Theory Simul. 30, 2000093, 2021 [More Information]. Invited contribution

Nasresfahani, A., D. Schiavi, M. C. Grady, R. A. Hutchinson, "An Automated Recipe Generator for Semi-Batch Solution Radical Copolymerization via Comprehensive Stochastic Modeling and Derivative-Free Algorithms", Chem. Eng. J. 417, 127920, 2021 [More Information]

Nasresfahani, A., R. A. Hutchinson, "Deterministic Approach to Estimate Functionality of Chains Produced by Radical Copolymerization in the Presence of Secondary Reactions", Macromolecules 53, 5674-5686, 2020 [More Information]

Nasresfahani, A., L. A. Idowu, R. A. Hutchinson, "Extractable Content of Functional Acrylic Resins Produced by Radical Copolymerization: A Comparison of Experiment and Stochastic Simulation", Chem. Eng. J. 378, 122087, 2019 [More Information]

Nasresfahani, A., R. A. Hutchinson, “Modeling the Distribution of Functional Groups in Semibatch Radical Copolymerization: An Accelerated Stochastic Approach”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 57, 9407-9419, 2018 [More information]

Nasresfahani, A., P. M. Zelisko, Polym. Chem. 8, 2942, 2017.

Nasresfahani, A.; M. Ahmadi, Macromol. Theory Simul. 24, 31, 2015.

Maryam Agboluaje – PhD (2017-2022)
Currently Research Engineer at BASF (Ludwigshafen, Germany)

Polymerization Kinetics of Water-Soluble Monomers in Organic and Aqueous Solutions

I graduated from the University of Alberta with a BSc in Chemical Engineering in 2017. During my time there, I had opportunities to work as a co-op student with Enbridge and Hinton Pulp, obtaining experience in both project management and the pulp and paper industry. Upon completion of my undergraduate program, I decided to work towards an advanced degree in order to pursue a career in R&D or quality control. While exploring graduate programs across Canada, I came across Dr. Hutchinson’s webpages at Queen’s University. I found his research areas interesting, and decided to join his group in the field of polymer reaction engineering. I started at Queen’s University as an MSc student in Dr. Hutchinson’s group, and as my interest grew in polymer reaction engineering I decided to promote to a PhD student within his group. Thus, I have been able to expand my scope of knowledge and skills to include both experimental investigations and kinetic modeling. So far I have no regrets! He always makes himself available to discuss progress and to help resolve technical issues, and encourages us to participate in different learning opportunities via conferences or external courses paid for out of his research funds. Furthermore, as a graduate student in the Hutchinson group, I have found multiple opportunities to develop leadership skills.

For my PhD I investigated the copolymerization kinetics of water soluble monomers from the acrylate and methacrylate families to determine how the kinetic behaviour of these monomers change as the polymerization environment changes from organic to aqueous. PLP-SEC and NMR and modeling are the main tools I use to investigate these reaction kinetics.

Papers

Agboluaje, M., G Kaur, E. Dǔsǐcka, A. Urbanová, M. Pishnamazi, B. Horváth, M. Janata, V. Raus, I. Lacík, R. A. Hutchinson, “A Systematic Study of tert-Butylacrylamide-Methyl Acrylate-Acrylic Acid Radical Solution Terpolymerization”, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 101, 5300-5314, 2023 [More Information]. Invited Contribution

Agboluaje, M., G. Kaur, R. A. Hutchinson, "Measurement and Modeling of N-tert-Butyl Acrylamide Radical Homo- and Copolymerization with Methyl Acrylate in Ethanol/Water", Macromol. React. Eng. 16, 2200026, 2022 [More Information]. Invited Contribution.

Kaur, G., M. Agboluaje, R. A. Hutchinson, "Measurement and Modeling of Semi-Batch Solution Radical  Copolymerization of N-tert-Butyl Acrylamide with Methyl Acrylate in Ethanol/Water", Polymers 15, 215, 2023 [More Information]. Invited Contribution.

Agboluaje, M., R. A. Hutchinson, "Measurement and Modeling of Methyl Acrylate Radical Polymerization in Polar and Nonpolar Solvents", Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 61, 6398-6413, 2022 [More Information]

Agboluaje, M., R. A. Hutchinson, "The Effect of Hydrogen Bonding on the Copolymerization Kinetics of 2-Methoxyethyl Acrylate with 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate in Alcohol and Aqueous Solutions", Can. J. Chem. Eng. 100, 689-702, 2022 [More Information]. Invited contribution

Agboluaje, M., I. Refai, H. M. Manston, R. A. Hutchinson, E. Dǔsǐcka, A. Urbanová, I. Lacík, "A Comparison of the Solution Radical Propagation Kinetics of Partially Water-Miscible Non-Functional Acrylates to Acrylic Acid", Polym. Chem. 11, 7104-7114, 2020 [More information]

Agboluaje, M, Sauvageau, D. Phage Production in Bioreactors. In Batcteriophage Therapy: From Lab to Clinical Practice. Azeredo, J., Sillankorva, S. (Eds), Springer Protocols (2017).

Derek Russell – PhD (Sept 2018 – May 2023).  Co-supervised by Prof. Louise Meunier

Physicochemical Characteristics and Environmental Fate of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant

I received my BSc and MSc in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta in 2014 and 2017, respectively. During this time, I experienced opportunities to work in several organizations as a co-op student to gain relevant professional experience in project management and R&D within the energy and mining industry. For my MSc program, I conducted scientific experiments to support the use of petroleum diesel as an effective solvent for bitumen extraction of ores at lower operating temperature conditions, thereby reducing the cost of the extraction process.

Having a desire to continue performing R&D and laboratory work, I am continuing my education as a PhD graduate student at Queen’s University. I joined Dr. Hutchinson’s and Dr. Meunier’s research groups as their work gives me a chance to expand on my previous research experiences, is industrially relevant, and could have important environmental benefits that I have a passion for.

In my PhD I investigated the environmental fate of degradation products from hydrolytically-degradable cationic flocculants for wastewater applications, using analytical equipment such as nuclear magnetic resonance. I also evaluated the bio-accessibility of these degradable flocculants as part of environmental assessments. This project allowed me to conduct leading, independent research and diversify my R&D skills. After graduation, I hope to pursue an R&D opportunity in industry.

Papers

Russell, D. A., R. A. Hutchinson, L. Meunier, "Estimating the bioaccessibility of flocculants in the
presence of sediments in model wastewater", Environ. Pollut. 15, 120265, 2022 [More Information]

Russell, D. A., R. A. Hutchinson, L. Meunier, "Quantitative Analyses to Estimate the Bioaccessibility of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant", Heliyon 7, e08500, 2021 [More Information]

Russell, D. A., L. Meunier, R. A. Hutchinson, "Characterization of Degradation Products from a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant", Polym. Degrad. Stab. 174, 109097, 2020 [More information]

"Petroleum Diesel-Assisted Ambient Temperature Aqueous-Nonaqueous Hybrid Bitumen Extraction Process", MSc Thesis, University of Alberta, 2017.  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3BR8MW34

Morgan Cooze MASc (2020 - 2021)
Currently Engineer with Integrated Sustainability (Calgary AB)

An Efficient Process for the Copper(0)-Mediated Controlled Radical Synthesis of Acrylate-Methacrylate Block Copolymers

Morgan Cooze is a recent 2021 MASc graduate in Chemical Engineering who started her education at Queen’s University as part of the Engineering Chemistry program. She first started working in the Hutchinson lab group as a summer student in 2018. With her continuing interest in the project, Morgan was promoted to the accelerated Master’s program in 2019. Her thesis research advanced the synthesis of block copolymers utilizing copper(0)-mediated controlled radical polymerization (CRP) for scale-up to industry while also reducing the environmental impacts, motivated by the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.

Morgan’s hobbies include rock climbing, running, Crossfit, hiking, camping, kayaking, playing guitar and dance. Her and her dog are constantly exploring hikes and mountains across Canada. 

Papers

Cooze, M. J., H. M. Deacon, K. Phe, R. A. Hutchinson, "Methacrylate and Styrene Block Copolymer Synthesis by Cu-Mediated Chain Extension of Acrylate Macroinitiator in a Semibatch Reactor", Macromol. React. Eng. 16, 2100043, 2022 [More Information]. Invited contribution

Cooze, M. J., N. R. Barr, R. A. Hutchinson, "Toward an Efficient Process for the Cu(0)-Mediated Synthesis and Chain Extension of Poly(methyl acrylate) Macroinitiator Using PMDETA as Ligand", Macromol. Chem. Phys. 222, 2100120, 2021 [More Information]

Shirali Zadeh, N., M. J. Cooze, N. R. Barr, R. A. Hutchinson, "An Efficient Process for the Cu(0)-mediated Synthesis and Subsequent Chain Extension of Poly(methyl acrylate) Macroinitiator", React. Chem. Eng. 4, 2000-2010, 2019 [More Information]

Ibrahim Refai MASc (2020 - 2021)
Currently Analytical Chemist with Diteba (Toronto ON)

A PLP-SEC Study of the Effect of Solvent on Radical Copolymerization Propagation Kinetics of Methyl Acrylate and tert-Butyl Acrylamide

I completed my undergraduate degree (BSc in Biology and Chemistry) at the University of Toronto in 2019 where I gained experience working in a variety of lab settings. After finishing my undergraduate degree I decided to pursue studies in a Master’s program in a field related to chemistry so I can further develop my critical thinking and research skills. One of the areas that interested me the most in chemical engineering is polymers, which led to my decision to start my MSc studies in the Hutchinson group, where I investigated the effect of solvent on the radical propagation kinetics of methyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylamide and their copolymers. 

Papers

Refai, I., M. Agboluaje, R. A. Hutchinson, "Radical Copolymerization Kinetics of N-tert-Butyl Acrylamide and Methyl Acrylate in Polar Media", Polym. Chem. 13, 2036-2047, 2022 [More Information].

Agboluaje, M., I. Refai, H. M. Manston, R. A. Hutchinson, E. Dǔsǐcka, A. Urbanová, I. Lacík, "A Comparison of the Solution Radical Propagation Kinetics of Partially Water-Miscible Non-Functional Acrylates to Acrylic Acid", Polym. Chem. 11, 7104-7114, 2020 [more information].

Gagandeep Kaur MASc (2020 - 2021)
Currently Field Engineer EIT with FourQuest Energy (Edmonton AB)

A Semi-batch Study of the Radical Copolymerization of Methyl Acrylate and tert-Butyl Acrylamide in Ethanol/Water Mixtures

I grew up in the beautiful city of Chandigarh, India and received a BE in Chemical Engineering from the prestigious,Thapar Institute of Technology, Patiala.  I interned in the R&D division of Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory where I worked with top scientists of India to develop models for performance optimization of high-density compounds. This experience led to my interest in research. After obtaining my bachelor's degree, I joined the dynamic team of Dr. Robin Hutchinson at Queen’s University as an MSc student where I studied the radical copolymerization of methyl acrylate and n-tert butyl acrylamide in alcohol/water mixtures in a semi-batch reactor system. In addition, I have gained a lot of knowledge about different analytical techniques to analyse the reaction and polymer properties, including GPC, NMR, and GC.

Papers

Agboluaje, M., G Kaur, E. Dǔsǐcka, A. Urbanová, M. Pishnamazi, B. Horváth, M. Janata, V. Raus, I. Lacík, R. A. Hutchinson, “A Systematic Study of tert-Butylacrylamide-Methyl Acrylate-Acrylic Acid Radical Solution Terpolymerization”, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 101, 5300-5314, 2023 [More Information]. Invited Contribution.

Kaur, G., M. Agboluaje, R. A. Hutchinson, "Measurement and Modeling of Semi-Batch Solution Radical  Copolymerization of N-tert-Butyl Acrylamide with Methyl Acrylate in Ethanol/Water", Polymers 15, 215, 2023 [More Information]. Invited Contribution.

Agboluaje, M., G. Kaur, R. A. Hutchinson, "Measurement and Modeling of N-tert-Butyl Acrylamide Radical Homo- and Copolymerization with Methyl Acrylate in Ethanol/Water", Macromol. React. Eng. 16, 2200026, 2022 [More Information]. Invited Contribution.

Hayden Deacon MSc (2021 - 2023)
Currently Engineer with Celanese Polymer Products Canada (Kingston ON)

Scalable Routes to Block Copolymers via Cu-Mediated Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization

Hayden obtained his BASc in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University in 2019. Prior to graduation, Hayden completed a 16-month internship at the Imperial Oil refinery in Sarnia, where he gained experience in process design and project development. After graduating in 2019, he returned to Imperial's Sarnia Site and worked in a variety of assignments, including process design / project development at the site’s chemicals complex, refinery turnaround support, and as a refinery Inventory Analyst. Hayden's interest in process development and scale-up engineering drove him to return to Queen's and join the Hutchinson Research Group in May 2021 to pursue research in the area of Polymer Reaction Engineering.

Hayden's Master's thesis furthered the development and optimization of robust operating conditions for the semi-batch chain extension of ATRP initiator solution produced via Cu(0)-catalyzed controlled radical polymerization (CRP), also introducing experimental techniques for measuring effective reaction rates used to predict the evolution of chain growth and polymer molar mass as a function of operating conditions, leading to the improved synthesis of methacrylate-acrylate and acrylate-acrylate block copolymers.

Papers

Cooze, M. J., H. M. Deacon, K. Phe, R. A. Hutchinson, "Methacrylate and Styrene Block Copolymer Synthesis by Cu-Mediated Chain Extension of Acrylate Macroinitiator in a Semibatch Reactor", Macromol. React. Eng. 16, 2100043, 2022 [More Information]. Invited contribution